[bobmoo79]

I started noticing clutch judder on my 14plate 116i around November last year. The car only had around 8000miles on the clock at that point and it only seemed to do it when pulling away when the car was cold. After that it would be fine. When the car was going into the dealers for something else (heat shield rattle) I asked them to look at it. Of course they weren't able to find anything and returned the car to me without a fix for either issue!

Anyway, the car now has nearly 11,000miles on the clock and the clutch seems to judder even when the car is fully up to temperature. For example, when sitting in start/stop traffic it can be quite tricky to balance the clutch so it doesn't exhibit at least some judder, though it still doesn't do it all the time. Sometimes it doesn't happen. Some times it's quite subtle, other times it's more obvious.

I'm contemplating taking the car back so the dealer can have another look, as well as the 'turbo heat shield rattle' (my description of it), and the rattling boot lid.

I've read about issues with older 1ers, but is there still a known clutch problem on 2014 1ers?
Should the dealer be aware of a problem, or will this be an unusual occurrence.

I'm just wary of looking like a twat with a number of issues that they claim they can't find.

I've been to Snows BMW in Portsmouth before but might go somewhere else...does anybody know of a GOOD / BMW dealer in Southampton/Portsmouth area??

 

[0l0dom0l0]

Perfect the technique so you can make the car judder. This in my 130i is pulling away using the clutch alone, or rolling slightly forward and slipping the clutch. Then request a test drive with a tech. If they are in the car - they can't miss it.

 

[BH55]

Yeah i get a bit of clutch judder.

 

[PJG]

I'm in a similar position, I'd be interested to see how this goes. My clutch judder seems to be for the first 2-3mins of driving when the engine is cold and damp conditions. It does seem to be ease when the car warms up.

Spoke to the dealer when the car was in for some other warranty work and he said it could be condensation on the flywheel.

 

[ianw182]

Had this on my 2013 63 plate 116i. I'd just bout it (it'd done 10500 miles) and is just done over 500 miles.

My e87 did it and had the clutch replaced at 28000 miles.

Took it to the dealer and left it overnight for them to drive first thing.

They managed to replicate it and replaced the clutch.

 

[seamaster]

I started noticing clutch judder on my 14plate 116i around November last year. The car only had around 8000miles on the clock at that point and it only seemed to do it when pulling away when the car was cold. After that it would be fine. When the car was going into the dealers for something else (heat shield rattle) I asked them to look at it. Of course they weren't able to find anything and returned the car to me without a fix for either issue!

Anyway, the car now has nearly 11,000miles on the clock and the clutch seems to judder even when the car is fully up to temperature. For example, when sitting in start/stop traffic it can be quite tricky to balance the clutch so it doesn't exhibit at least some judder, though it still doesn't do it all the time. Sometimes it doesn't happen. Some times it's quite subtle, other times it's more obvious.

I'm contemplating taking the car back so the dealer can have another look, as well as the 'turbo heat shield rattle' (my description of it), and the rattling boot lid.

I've read about issues with older 1ers, but is there still a known clutch problem on 2014 1ers?
Should the dealer be aware of a problem, or will this be an unusual occurrence.

I'm just wary of looking like a twat with a number of issues that they claim they can't find.

I've been to Snows BMW in Portsmouth before but might go somewhere else...does anybody know of a GOOD / BMW dealer in Southampton/Portsmouth area??

I had the judder on a 118D (common on the Diesel) but only from cold for the first few gear changes. Over 4 years it never
developed to anything more. In your case it seems to have progressed so maybe now easier to demonstrate to a BMW Tech.

I did find on mine that when warmed up I could provoke the judder when moving off from a stop on a steep incline
from time to time.

Maybe try this and if so you have a more reliable method of proving the point to BMW.

 

[emawer]

I've got a 2014 116i on 30k miles.

Just recently I've noticed quite a lot of clutch judder when pulling off. I thought it was me getting the biting point wrong but after driving for a bit it stopped doing it so it can't have been me.

It keeps doing it every so often, can't seem to see any pattern.

 

[bobmoo79]

Thanks for the replies guys, even from just these replies it seems as though there might be an issue with these cars, even with low mileage (for a clutch).
Strangely my car has been slightly better in the last few days and so I haven't done anything about it yet.
When I eventually do take it into the dealer I'll report back with what happens.
If this is a wider issue then I would expect the dealer to acknowledge it and sort it out, but the default answer always seems to be "can't find the problem Sir" no matter what the issue is.

As I said, I'll report back when they've looked at it but it's likely to be a few weeks as I need a courtesy car.

In the meantime, if anybody else has a similar issue then please add it below!

 

[Andy125d]

I have the same problem happen in the last few weeks judder noise when moving off I have a 125d manual

 

[Airblade550]

The clutch judder on diesels is common. I had it on both my 116d E87 and also experienced it on a 118D F20, something to do with the dual mass flywheel. BMW developed a software temp fix, (which didnt), that involved reducing the amount of torque produced at low revs in an attempt to minimise the judder... I am not sure as to wether the below advise will apply to a petrol car but worth a try...

However, to my point... It is always difficult to reproduce in normal use especially when attempting to demonstrate to a dealers service tech, so here is a method that always works, (if you of course have a genuine mechanical issue with the clutch and it's not just your driving style).

Instead of pulling off forward on a flat surface, try reversing, up a slope. The gradient will emphasise the judder and if any software is involved, it does not apply in reverse...

With this method, (in my experience), it will be difficult for the dealer to ignore

One very good reason to choose an auto..

 

[bobmoo79]

That sounds like a good idea. Didn't think of that!

 

[bobmoo79]

I still haven't tried your suggestion but I gave the dealership a call today but they advised me that if they couldn't find a fault with the clutch during their investigation they would charge me for the time - £100 for the first hour (not sure what subsequent times would cost).
While I can't blame them for wanting to cover their cost and avoid wasted time it's frustrating and I have no confidence in dealers finding problems - even those that are present 100% of the time. For the past few days my clutch has been absolutely fine, but that could be because (a) weather conditions have changed, or (b) I haven't driven it much and so not been stuck in traffic for ages, or (c) other unexplained reason. This is the problem. I don't know what causes it....but I'm quite certain it's not my driving style.

As an explanation for why I'm reluctant and have a low opinion of dealers....my old Astra had a gearbox fault. I took it in 4 or 5 times during the warranty period and was never charged. When i took it in for other work AFTER the warranty period ended I didn't even mention the gearbox issue. When they called me up to say the work was done they also said they noticed that the gearbox was playing up and so as it was just out of warranty they would see if they could get it repaired as a good will gesture. Vx wouldn't agree to pay 100% of cost so after some negotiation we agreed I would pay £300. Not bad at all for a brand new dealer fitted gearbox but I was livid!
Now, consider if that had happened with my BMW, not only would I have had 4 or 5 wasted trips to the dealership, costing my at least £400 for investigations for an intermittent fault (under warranty!), but then to add insult to injury they would presumably want to charge me if the fault was eventually identified outside warranty. So far BMW haven't impressed me with their fault-finding skills!